December 2016 Newsletter

St. Nicholas Newsletter December 2016

The Sunday before the Nativity has as its Gospel Reading Matthew 1:1-25 which includes the genealogy from Abraham to the birth of Jesus. Significantly, there are 40 generations completed before the birth of Jesus, which is, besides just a long list, also symbolic of a complete time during which something holy has been accomplished. We can see this in the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness before the rebellious generation died out and the Hebrews were then able to enter the Promised Land, the 40 days of fasting by Jesus before He began His public ministry, our own 40 day fasts of Great Lent and the Nativity Fast, etc. For this genealogy, what St. Matthew spells out in generations, St. Paul similarly says in the brief phrase, “the fullness of time” which we hear in the Nativity Epistle (Galatians 4:4-7).

But, getting back to the list of names, I recall when I was a child how funny it sounded to have such a long string of what to me – in my childish naiveté – seemed like some really goofy sounding names. But, they are not so goofy sounding if one knows their meanings.

One thing interesting to notice is that in the David to Deportation list, most have names based upon Yah- (a nickname for God as a short and safe way to name Him by not pronouncing His full name) while for those after the Babylonian Exile, that custom largely gave way to names based upon El ("God" generically, without being named personally).

Here is the genealogy portion of the reading (Matthew 1:2-16) with the names given parenthetically in translation.

2 Abraham (“Father of a Multitude”) begot Isaac (Laughter), and Isaac begotJacob (Supplanter or “Heel-grabber”), and Jacob begot Judah (Thanksgiving or Praise, and also the source of the word Jew) and his brothers, 3 and Judah begot Perez (Breach or “Break Forth”) and Zerah (Rising)from Tamar (Palm Tree), and Perez begot Hezron (Enclosed or “Surrounded by a Wall”), and Hezron begot Ram (Exalted), 4 and Ram begot Amminadab (“My Kinsman Is Noble” or “One of the Prince’s People”), and Amminadab begot Nahshon (Enchanter or “One Who Practices Divination”), and Nahshon begot Salmon (Garment), 5 and Salmon begot Boaz (Presumably “Fleetness” though it is from an unused root word of unknown meaning) from Rahab (Wide), and Boaz begot Obed (Serving) from Ruth (Friendship), and Obed begot Jesse (I Possess), and Jesse begot David (Beloved) the king.

And David the king begot Solomon (Peace) from her who was the wife of Uriah (“The Lord Is My Light/Flame”) 7 and Solomon begot Rehoboam (“A People Has Enlarged/Widened”), and Rehoboam begot Abijah (“My Father Is Yah/The Lord”), and Abijah begot Asa (“Healer”? it’s uncertain),8 and Asa begot Jehoshaphat (“The Lord Has Judged”), and Jehoshaphat begot Joram (“Jo/The Lord Is Exalted”), and Joram begot Uzziah (“My Strength Is Yah/The Lord”), 9 and Uzziah begot Jotham (“The Lord Is Perfect”), and Jotham begot Ahaz (“He Has Seized/Grasped”), and Ahaz begot Hezekiah (“My Strength Is Yah/The Lord”), 10 and Hezekiah begot Manasseh (“Causing To Forget”), and Manasseh begot Amon (aka Amos, “Skilled Worker”), and Amon begot Josiah (“Whom Iah/The Lord Heals”), 11 and Josiah begot Jechoniah (“Iah/The Lord Will Establish”) and his brothers, at the time of the Babylonian deportation.

12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah begot Shealtiel (“I Have Asked of God”), and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel (“Sewn in Babylon”), 13 and Zerubbabel begot Abiud (“My Father Is Majesty”), and Abiud begot Eliakim (“God Raises/Sets Up”), and Eliakim begot Azor (Helper), 14 and Azor begot Zadok (Righteous), and Zadok begot Achim (“The Lord Will Establish”), and Achim begot Eliud (“God His Praise”), 15 and Eliud begot Eleazar (“Help of God”), and Eleazar begot Matthan (Gift), and Matthan begot Jacob (Supplanter or “Heel-grabber”), 16 and Jacob begot Joseph (Increase) the husband of Mary (“Rebellious” if of Hebrew origin, but if from Egyptian – where Miriam, Moses’ sister was born – then it is from mry, meaning “Beloved”), from whom Jesus (Savior) was born, who is called Christ (Anointed, or in Hebrew: Messiah).

in XC,

FBW

Happenings at St. Nicholas:

We were able to collect 200 cans of green beans for the Thanksgiving meals given out by the Pella Foodshelf. Thanks to Patty for arranging this opportunity, to the kids for making the “Turkey Box”, and to everyone who donated beans!

Thanks be to God, we had a wonderful St. Nicholas Day gathering. We had more in attendance than for the last few years, and we had beautiful services and a great Pasta dinner! We were blessed by guests from many places, including Fr. Basil from St. George Greek Orthodox Church who concelebrated with Fr. Bartholomew, and Fr. Marty from Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church in Ames.

A big “Thank you!” to all of you who attended the services and helped with the decorating, the Spaghetti dinner, the setting up, and the clean-up!

We had our semi-annual Care Center visits this month as well. It is always a blessing to worship with the residents, and to have a chance to visit with them.

For many of them, this is their only experience ever of participating in an Orthodox service, and they are always very grateful to have us come and “bring church” to them.